Automobile control device



May 26, 1936- A.B. ALTHousE 2,042,202

AUTOMOBILE CONTROL DEVIOE Filed March 2O, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 26, 1936 A. a. ALTHou'sE 2,042,202

AUTOMOBILE CONTROL DEVICE y INVENTOR al .www

lllllll Inl-v 73 Patented' May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES.:

PATENT OFFICE I AUTOMOBILE CONTROL nEvIcE vArthur- B. Ammuse Manoa, Pa. Application March zo, 1934, serial No. 716,413

claims. (o1. 19a-s) This invention in general relates to an improved means for operating motor vehicles, having for its object a novel. automobile control device or system permitting the control of the ac- 5 celerating or fuel supply regulating means and the braking mechanism of a self-propelled ve-A hicle by a single member or foot pedal.

,Another object is the provision of means with a view to a still further simplification of the con- -trol instrumentalities of a motor car, so that a single control member or foot pedal may actuate the gas or fuel throttle and the braking means without removing tlie foot from the said single pedal.

l5 A further object is to provide a single pedal effectiye for accelerating the engine of the automobile while preventing the accidental or simultaneous operation of the braking mechanism, and conversely for actuating the braking means while Apreventing the simultaneous operation of the accelerating means.

A further object of the invention is`to provide f a. novel, detachable assembly that may be conveniently applied to practically any standard make or conventional typeof motor car, so that the latter may be operated by a single' control de- .35 referred to, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will -be described in' connection with Athe accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig; 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view,

40 partly in elevation, of an embodiment of the inpractical, D

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of one of the movement-selecting or locking devices and certain elements connected thereto, showing an outer disc locked to the fixed centre disc, and an inner disc free to rotate, thereby permitting 5 the actuation of the gas throttle or accelerating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the outer rotatable elements or discs, together with its integral arm; 10

Fig. 6 is a perspective `view of a sleeve member employed to lock the two oppositely positioned lockingor movement-selecting devices together for operation in unison; l f

Fig. '7 isa transverse sectional view, taken on 15 the line l-'I of Fig'. 1, as seen in the direction of the arrows, showing more fully the disposition and coaction of certain parts;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of lthe invention; and 20 Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the modified form of the inve tion shown in Fig. 8.

For the purpogegof illustrating my invention,

I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by 25 me since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding 35 parts in the several views ofthe preferred forms of the invention, I2 designates a portion of the inclinedl flooring of a motor vehicle (not shown)` adjacent the operators seat, the said iiooring having suitable cut-out portions to accommodate 40 vention secured td the flooring of an automobile fsa metal pan or stamping I3, wherein the means.

, (not shown), and operatively connected to the ,braking and throttle or accelerating mechanism of the samen; A Fig. 2 is-a top plan view, partly in section, with partsV broken away, of the arrangement illustrated ingFig. 1, and showing the ,locking or movement selecting devices in neutral position;

Fig. 3 is a central sectionalY view, .partly in elevation, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as seen in the direction of the arrows, and showing the xed member of one of the locking or movement selecting devices, with an adjacent coacting rotat-` able disc, and certainother coacting details, inneared 1n dotted unes;

forming an important feature of'this invention are arranged. The pan or stamping I3, the bottom of which is depressed or countersunk, has flanges I4 thru whicl/iscrews I5 are threaded into 45 the flooring I2, thus removably securing the said pan and the assembly therein to the vehicle.

Pivotally secured to studs I6 suitably fastened to' opposite sides of the pan I3, is a yoke or U- shaped member I'I, the opposite arms I8, I9 of 5 which are hingedly joined to a pin 20 secured by collars 2 Ito a pair of opposed lugs or brackets 22,v 23, fastened to an underside of a foot pedal 24. The arms I8, I9 of the yoke, as best shown in Fig.

2, have slots I8', I9' which receive outwardly pro- 55 or bracket 39 suitably attached to being disc or arms 32, 33, are fastened. 'I'he arms 32, 33 at their lower ends are fastened to a second pin 34, to the centre of which latter a link or arm is pivotally connected. 'I'he arm 35, which is limited in itsupward movement by a collar 36 fastened thereto and normally engaged against the outer surface of the pan I3, is in turn hingedly connected at its lower end to a bell crank lever 31 rockingly mounted on a stud 38 fastened to a lug `the flooring I2.. The bell crank lever 31, which isconnected by a rod or link 48 to the fuel regulating throttle or accelerating mechanism (not shown), is/biased by a spring 4I attached at one end to an arm of the said lever 31,- the other end of the spring being anchored to the pan I3. serves to resiliently thrust upwardly the link 35 and parts attached thereto, thereby maintaining the forward end of the foot pedal 24 in the normal l.partial housing for the on the stu and neutral position shown in Fig. 1.

To the ends of the pin 34 a pair of arms 42, 43 are hingedly attached, each of the said arms, as best Ashown in Fig. 2, having integrally formed therewith a member or disc constituting the other movable member of the -device A and adapted to be rotatably mounted on a shouldered stud 45 having a reduced portion as at 46 which protrudes thru a central openingin the web or body portion 41 of a stationary disc ,or member 48 having a-unitary base or pedestal 43 which is suitably secured as by the screws or nuts 50, to the metal pan I 3. The body portion of the member 48 as above-referred to, which is the ixed or stationary member of the movement or control selecting device A, has integrally formed thereon an annular`flange 5I serving'n as a covering or rotatable members 26, 44, a ove referred to, the member 44 being mounted the reduced portion 46 providing a shoulder which is thrust as a stop against the web 41 of the stationary member 48. Nuts and washers indicated generally at/521, 53, at either end of the stud 45 rotatably secure the outer and inner discs 26 and 44 respectively, to the xed disc or member 48. y f

By inspection ofFigs. 2, 3, and 4, it'will be observed that the xed disc is provided with 'three radially positioned holes or passageways 54, while each ofthe rotatable members have three semispherical, radially positioned pockets indicated generally at 55 in the inner discs 44 and at 56 in the outer disc 26, which pockets in the normal and neutralposition of the foot pedal as shownin Figs. 1 and -2, are adapted to`register with the holes or passageways 54 of the xed member 48. In each of the passageways 54 a steel ball 51 is arranged, the said ball in the neutral position of The spring 4I also ball, the latter will be wholly projected out of the pocket of the moving disc and thence into the pocket of the disc on the other side of the fixed member 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, to the extent of one-half of the said ball, the other half 5 thereof now resting in the passageway 54, the smooth, unbroken lateral surface now presented ofthe disc moved or moving, now preventing egress of the ball which is now eifective for locking in the immediate instance the outer disc 26 to the xed member 48 while simultaneously permitting further rotation of the disc iirst moved for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

With avview to synchronizing the movement of the two control or movement selecting devices A, each of which is located at an opposite side of the pan' I3, a sleeve 58 having a pair of notches 59 is provided. 'Ihe hub o'f each of the inner rotatable members 44 is accommodated in the bore of the said. sleeve 58, the notches 58' of which are adapted to span the arms 42 and 43 of the members 44, so that the latter will turn in unison. Set screws 68 in addition y be provided if desired to further secure he sleeve to the hubs of the inner rotatable members.

Suitablyv secured to or integrally formed with each of the outer rotatable discs 26 is an arm 6| on the pair of which a pin or shaft 62 held against axial movement by the collars 63, is rotatably miunted. To the pin or shaft 62, a link 64 con- 30 nected to the brake mechanism (notshown) of the vehicle, is pivoted, whereby, when the outer discs, as hereinbelow'described, are turned, the will be swung or moved to operate the brakes. 35

The operation of the device in the instantem- A bodiment may now besummarized as follows:-

- Assuming the engine (not shown) of the v ehicle fis functioning in the'ordinary manner and that it is desired to accelerate same, the forward end 4Q of the foot pedal 24, now in neutral position (Fig. 2), will be ldepressed by the ball of the foot of the operator, thereby thrusting down the arms 32, 33 and consequently angling the armsJZ, 43 connected to theinner rotatable discs 44. The 45 initiation of the turning-movement of the discs 4.4, as indicated above will instantly lock the outer discs to the fixed middle discs while completely freeing the inner discs that have beenilrst rotated. 'I'he descent of the arms 32, 33 and the 5.0 pin 34 secured thereto will push downwardly the arm 35 to which the spring-biased bell` crank2 lever 31 is hinged, therocking of which latter will actuate the accelerating-or fuel regulating P mechanism to the desired degree and in accord- 5? ance with the extent of rocking or. swinging movement of the forward end of the foot pedal 24 about the pin 20 as an axis. 'I'he` actuation of the brake mechanism while the accelerating means are being manipulated, it 'will be seen, is C? at no time permitted by the action -oi' the movement-selecting device.

When it is desired to brake the vehicle, for

example when sameis in motion, the operatorl will permit the spnng 4I to at once return to the C viewed in Figs. 1 and 2) both the outer discs 26 and the arms 6I secured thereto. The beginning of the rotation of the outer discs 26 will lthrust the balls 51 from the neutral position indicated in Fig. 2 and into the three semi-spherical pockets of the inner discs 44 thereby immediately locking -the latter to the xed members 48 and at the same time freeing the outer discs 26 for further and unimpeded rotation. The angular movement of the arms 5| will swing the link 84 and actuate the brake mechanism to the desired degree.

Referring to the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, 1| designates a stamping or'pan of a construction similar to that shown in the iirst form of the invention described above and secured to the flooring I2 in any' suitable manner. In the instant form of the invention, the foot pedal 12 at its rear; end is resiliently supported above the pan 1I by a coil spring 13 suitably secured to the latter.

Pivotally mounted on a bar or pin 14 fastened to a pair of depending lugs 15 arranged on the bottom of the pedal 12 is a yoke indicated generally at 16, the opposite arms 11,18 of which are pivoted at their forward end to a shaft or bar 19 rotatably supported in a pair of opposed lugs or brackets 8|, and having keyed thereto two levers 82, arranged in spaced relation. The upper arm of each lever 82 is formed with a slot 83 wherein rides a pin or bar 84 fastened to lugs 85 on the bottom of the forward portion of the foot pedal 12. The lowermost arm of the lever 82, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, is hingedly connected to a link 86 connected -with the: fuel regulating supply or accelerator (not shown) of the vehicle, and biased in the normal position shown by a spring 81 suitably secured to the pan 1|. Each lever 82 is also provided with an intermediate arm 88 having a slot 89, receiving a pin 90, fastened to` a disc 9|, secured to an axle'or shaft 92 rotatably mounted in a pair of lugs or brackets 93 suitably fastened to the pan 1|. Each of the discs 9| which are spaced from the supporting brackets 93 by hubs or collars 94 fastened to the shaft 92 andV holding the latter against axial movement, is formed with a radially extending slot 95 which is adapted to receive an inwardly projecting pin or small roller 96 secured to each of the arms 11 and 18 when the latter are angled downwardly in'a clockwise direction by the depression of the foot pedal 12, as described later. The arms of the yoke 16 are also joined at their rearward .end by a pin 91 to which is pivoted an arm 98 hinged to a bell crank lever 99 swingably mounted on a stud |00 fastened to a bracket orlugl0lsecuredtothepan1.

The'operation of the modified form of the invention, is in many respects, similar to that of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to '1, inclusive, and briefly is as follows:-

Assuming the vehicle is in motion and that-it is desired to decelerate or bring same to a stop, the foot pedal 12 will be depressed at the heel portion against the resistance of spring 13 and about the pin 84 as an axis thereby simultaneously depressing the link 98 to actuate thebrake mechanism thru the bell crank lever 99 and link il |02, and thrusting the pins or rollers 96 into the adjacent slots 95 of the discs 9|, thus preventing rotation of the latter and consequently'the turnoperator thereby swinging the lever 82 in a clockwisedirection and bringing the circular edges of the said discs into engagement with the rollers 96 which latter are now prevented from entering the slots 95 as the latter turns with the discs 9|. The arms ,11, 18, and consequently the rearward portion of the pedal 12 will now be prevented from rotation as the front end of same swings down and turns the bell crank lever 82 in a clock wise direction to actuate the throttle by means of the connecting link 86.

In both forms of the invention, it is to be noted that whichever end of the pedal is first moved will immediately free that end for performing its indicated function while simultaneously locking the other end againstvmovement. The device also, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 8, will prevent synchronous operation of both ends of the pedal, thus making it impossible toaccelerate and brake the vehicle at the same time. This L9 selective action of the invention serves in large measure to prevent the accidental manipulation of the accelerator for the brake, or the brake for the accelerator, as frequently happens to nervous and inexperienced operators of motor vehicles.

Both embodiments of the invention, as bestdepicted in Figs. 2 and 9, are conveniently arranged in their respective pans I3 and 1I, So that by suitably cutting out an opening in the iiooring of the conventional type of automobile adjacent the operators seat, either of the assemblies may be conveniently and quickly installed, in this manner modernizing the fuel regulating and braking mechanism of the automobile to which it is attached.

Either form of the invention has been particularly designed and adapted for use with what of the said pedal will suflice to make effective a y variable fluid pressure which may exert a maximum force of considerable value. The methodA and means described and illustrated, however,

are readily applied to the old style conventional brake mechanism employing mechanical and non-huid means for actuating same.

' I am v aware that the invention may be embodied in other 'specific forms without departing from 50 the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and'I therefore desire thepresent embodiments to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with the accelerator and brake mechanism of a motor vehicle, of a single foot pedal, said pedal being mechanically and operatively connected to said accelerator and b rake mechanism, and means connected to the forward end and rear end of said pedal for selectively locking same at either end while permitting movement of the oppositeend, whereby said pedal is operative to selectively actuate either the accelerator or the braking mechanism.

2. The combination with the accelerator mechanism and brake mechanism of an automobile, of a single pedal, means connecting the said pedal to the said accelerator mechanism and brake mechanism, and other means including at least one fixed member and a plurality mechanism' inoperative.

3. A device of the character described for accelerating andbraking a motor vehicle by means of a single -Ioot pedal comprising in combination a foot pedal, means resiliently supporting said pedal at either end, links connecting the pedal to Vthe accelerator and 'brake mechanism of said motor vehicle, a member xedly secured to the vehicle, a pair of other members coactingly connected and rotatable relatively to said irst memtioned member-so that when one member is turned relatively to the xed member, the other and normally rotatable member will be locked to the iirst member, and instrumentalities connecting the rotatable members to forward and rear portions of the said pedal.

4. 'Ihe combination with the fuel regulating supply and brake mechanism of an automobile, of a lever, means connecting said lever to the said fuel regulating supply and brake mechanism, and other means including a bail and socket assembly connected to the lever, supply and brake mechanism for preventing movement of said lever in one direction while permitting movement of same in another, whereby the fuel regulating supply and the brake mechanism may be operated one means to the accelerator and the brake mechanism, whereby when one end of the foot operated means is swung about the other. end as a pivot, said device will permit movement of the end first swung while preventing movement of the latter end. Y

- ARTHUR B. ALTHOUSE. 

